Both companies, as well as American Express, had decided in April to pull gift cards from the state because of New Jersey's escheat laws requiring collection of consumer information. The law also would have collected unused balances and put them in the state Treasury as part of the unclaimed property program.

But legislators changed the escheat laws in the final days of the session, putting a four-year moratorium on data collection and eliminated gift card expiration dates.

"We applaud the governor and the Legislature for taking this important step to enhance consumer protection, while delaying the provisions that would have negatively impacted New Jersey consumers and businesses alike," said Talbott Roche, president of Blackhawk, in the company's announcement.

Talbott said the company would continue to pressure lawmakers to eliminate the data collection requirement, instead of just delaying it.